Entertainment

Windows Live Offers Web ID Authentication: Will this Hurt OpenID?

Windows Live now offers ID Authentication options for website developers. You can now enable your site visitors to sign in to your website or forums with their Windows Live username and password.

Similar to Yahoo, sign-in and account management is handled by Windows Live ID, leaving fewer details to be performed on your end. The Windows Live ID application can be implemented in ASP.NET, Java, Perl, PHP, Python and Ruby. Additionally, you can enable your users to chat with their Windows Live contacts, as well as send basic messages, via your website, to their friends.

Another service that offers this tool is OpenID, which is still growing its user base and has fewer integrated options. With companies like Microsoft offering Web ID authentication options, developers are more able to leverage an existing user base, as opposed to starting at the ground level, growing alongside another start up. WikiSpaces and Plaxo are both companies that have recently added OpenID support.

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